A unique experience: 'Unveiled's' David Tutera in El Paso today

Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera will lead an interactive seminar today at 150 Sunset. (Courtesy Photo)

David Tutera is known as the wedding planner who juggles opinionated mothers and transforms brides' unusual themed requests — such as a Gardens of Babylon — into a beautiful, dream wedding.

And the star of WE TV's "David Tutera: Unveiled," pulls it all together in a short span of time and without getting frazzled. He's been in the wedding planning business for 27 years, after all.

But he's plenty understanding of how overwhelmed brides can get during the wedding planning process. For starters, there are plenty of relatives who want to share their views on the wedding dress, the venue or the cake.

REPORTER

María Cortés González

"And then there's the Internet and books and television shows... there's just too much information that doesn't allow them to think outside the box and really think about what they want — which is to create a truly unique experience," said Tutera, who will lead an interactive seminar today at 150 Sunset. The seminar is part of The City Magazine's launch of a new yearly magazine, The City Weddings.

Tutera said he is sometimes surprised and shocked by what brides want as a wedding theme. But, he said, he has a job to do.

"I never aim to judge or destroy; my job is to take their ideas and make it better if not great. I try to keep the direction they originally wanted but just in a more appropriate way," he said.

Advertisement

On his show, Tutera has helped brides plan a variety of interesting weddings, from a "Twilight"-inspired affair to a glittering Broadway event.

The designer said he sometimes wonders if the bride, groom or extended family will like what he has designed.

"Sometimes you don't click with the bride or groom and you don't have the confidence that they're really going to appreciate what you've done — but I have to say the percentage is really high that I'm going to succeed in giving them their dream wedding ... and that I'm making their guests really happy and creating a memory."

What makes the whole process fascinating for Tutera is that he pulls off these incredible weddings, often in a matter of days, because of production deadlines.

"I've learned to listen and learn really fast and execute and not second guess my decisions because I don't have the time or the flexibility. (The process) sort of puts your senses on high alert; it's kind of a learning curve," he said.

"When we started the show in 2007-08 we had more time, now we're putting them together sometimes in under a week. We've gone from sanity to hyper-speed insanity," he said.

Naturally, brides generally want to plan and know every detail of their big day. But, in the past five years, grooms have taken more interest in some of the aspects of their wedding days.

Tutera thinks that's great and that the grooms should be able to give input on the venue and the entertainment.

"They are showing an active role in wanting to be part of the planning ... and it's the first thing they are doing together before they're a married couple so it's a great exercise for the bride and groom and should be enjoyable," he said.

When it comes to wedding trends, Tutera said he is using a lot of modern lace in his line of gowns, David Tutera for Mon Cheri, and bright colors and floral patterns in his shoe and jewelry lines.

But he's also an advocate of brides embracing their cultures or geographic locations. So, if you're thinking of a wedding with a Southwest flair?

"If you want to wear the boots, wear the boots or if you want to have the wedding in a ranch or barn, do it — just don't do it halfway, really embrace it," he said.

María Cortés González may be reached at 546-6150.

Who: Interactive seminar with David Tutera.

When: 5 to 6 p.m. today; he also will appear at a boutique vendor showcase from 6 to 10 p.m. today.

Where: Both events will be at 150 Sunset.

Tickets: Limited $40 tickets left for seminar, $40 for showcase or $75 for both events. Tickets are available at The City Magazine office, 5925 Silver Springs, Suite A, or thecitymagazineelp.com/weddings